Yellow clays are rich in ferric oxides and red clay color is due to ferrous and copper oxides. The rainbow of clay colors available reflects the variety of unique minerals contained within the clay. Green and blue colors come from ions of ferrous and magnesium as well as decomposed organic material. Illite, montmorillonite, and kaolin clays all come in a variety of natural colors, but it is the structure of the individual clay minerals that makes them effective in differing ways. While color is often used to identify and differentiate clays, it is not very accurate. Source: A Rainbow of ColorsĪs you can see in the picture of the clay cliffs of Aquinnah at Martha's Vineyard, natural clays can come in many colors. When rocks are exposed to air and water, these oxides undergo oxidation, which weakens the rocks and causes them to break apart.
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